Gate-latch



(No Model.)

. R. D. GOODLETT.

GATE LATCH.

v PaJtentedApr. 14, 1896.

"A No. 558,276.

tails.

UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

ROBERT D. GOODLETT, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

GATE-LATCH. Y

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,276, dated April 14, 1896. Application ledApril 18, 1895. Serial No. 546,189. (No model.)

To @ZZ whoml t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT D. GooDLETr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Nashville, county of Shelby, State of Tennessee, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specification. Y l

This invention relates to latches primarily adapted for use in connection with gatesfand its object is to provide a simple, compact, and convenient latch that will operate to secure the gate with efficiency, whether or not the latter has been accurately hung or has sagged after use.

The invention consists of the construction hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, in which like letters designate corresponding parts in the several figures, Figure l is a front elevation of a latch embodying the invention as normally secured in place and fastened. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Figs. 3 and 4 are elevations of de- Fig. 5 is a horizontal section showing the latch in engagement.

The plate A is fixed to the gate G and is provided with two pieces or ears a c', projecting out over the gate-post P. These ears have circular apertures IJ b', respectively, to receive the rotatable spindle C of the knob C. The spindle has two rounded portions c c', fitting in the apertures b b', so as to turn therein, and it also has a lug c2, arranged to engage the inner side of one of the pieces a a', preferably the piece a, as shown in Fig. 2, to hold the spindle in place. The piece or ear d has a notch a2, through which the lug may pass when the spindle is adj usted in place. The spindle C is provided also with a shouldered portion, which passes through a corresponding aperture d of a pendent rod D. The rod is thus pivotally secured to the ears or pieces a c', so as to swing in a vertical plane, the rod and spindle being secured together, so that they may be easily turned by the knob. Upon the post P is fastened ahook E, having an inclined portion e, so disposed that when the gate is closed it lies in the path of the rod D, so that the latter may strike the portion e and be swung to one side till it passes behind and swings back to engage the notch e of the hook.

If the gate does not come up even with the post P, the members of the latch will still be able to engage, and in case the gate sags, as frequently happens, or the post P sinks, the rod D at some point along its length will still be able to engage the hook.

I am aware that it has been proposed to make a gate-latch having a suspended swinging rod provided at its lower end with a triangular foot to be used in connection with a flat projecting plate operating upon the triangular foot to turn the rod aside and to pass behind the rod, and such construction I do not cla-im.

I am also aware that it has been proposed to make a gate-latch having a swinging head in the form of a quadrant of a sphere, to be used in connection with an inclined catch to turn the quadrant-shaped head and to engage the same on the rear side, and this construction I do not claim.

In my device there is a pendent rod pivoted at its upper end, and the body of the rod is of substantially uniform diameterthat is, Without any specially-formed foot or head-and the body of the rod is adapted to strike the inclined hookrand to be turned aside thereby and to swing back behind the hook. By having the body of the rod formed in this way the rod is sure to be properly operated by the inclined hook, Whether the gate or the gate-post sags or not, the hook being able to engage the body of the rod at any point along its length. This arrangement and construction, it will be seen, is quite different from the old devices above referred to and which are herein disclaimed.

Of course various changes could be easily made Without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, other means than the lug c2 could be employed to retain the spindle in place and the knob C might be omitted. If the knob were omitted, the hand could be applied directly to the rod D to unfasten the latch. Again, the slanting portion e. could be disposed so as to swing the rod inward toward the gate or outward from the gate, as will be readily understood, and the rod, if desired, might be secured to the gate-post and the hook to the gate. More- IOO over, the rod might be pivotally connected in any suitable manner to the pieces or ears a 0, or to only a single projecting piece.

That I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a gate-latch, the combination of a pivoted pendent rod D of substantially uniform cross-section along its length adapted to be secured so as to swing in a vertical plane, with a hook provided With an inclined portion disposed in the path of the rod and arranged to swing the rod to one side behind the notch of the hook whereby the rod at any point along its length may be engaged by the hook, substantially as set forth.

3. In a gate-latch, the combination of a plate provided With one or more pieces or ears projecting outward `in a line parallel with the gate, a pendentrod D of substantially uniform cross-section `lalong its length pivotally secured to said earor ears, and a` hook provided with an inclined `portion disposed `in the path ofthe rod and arranged to `swing the rod to one side till it engages the notch of the hook whereby the rod at any pointalong its length may be engaged by the hook, substantially as set forth.

3. In a gate-latch, the combination of a plate provided with two projecting pieces or ears a, a having apertures, a knob provided with a shouldered spindle C' rotatable in said apertures, a pendent rod D of substantially uniform cross-section along its length secured to the spindle between the ears a, a', with a hook having an inclined portion e disposed in the path of the rod and arranged to swing the rod to one side till the latter has engaged the notch of the hook whereby the rod at any point along its length may be engaged by the hook., substantially as set forth.

In testimony `whereof I have Asigned my name to this specification in 'the `presence of two subscribing witnesses.

`RO BERT D. GOODLETT.

lVitnesses:

NV. B. PAUL, J. G. EUBANK. 

